Category Buyer

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

We have been present in Saudi Arabia for 40 years and with over 600 employees to date, we are growing rapidly. Together we are delivering our signalling, control and train protection systems for the North –South Railway (NSR), the longest system of it’s kind in the world. Together we are key suppliers of In-flight entertainment and connectivity systems as well as air traffic management solutions in Saudi. We are making Saudi Arabia a safer place by securing the country’s critical infrastructure and e-security solutions that secure the country’s electronic payment systems. Thales has been selected to supply major electronic systems for air defence and the Group also supplied communication and optronic systems for the Army, the Saudi Arabia National Guards and the Air Force.

JOB OBJECTIVE:

• The Category Buyer (CB) supports one or several procurement categories. The CB works in close relation with the relevant Global Category Managers (GCM), the Category Manager (CM) and the Tactical Buyer (TB). All actions have to be in line with the strategy defined by the Global Category Manager and the regional CM. The CB's prime role is the management of the RFI or/and RFP's until PVet 4 stage (up to PVet 5 based on some Regions) in order to bring competitiveness and performance to the business. CB role is accountable of the relationship with the panel of supplier within his/her perimeter.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Support :

• Ensure the BA's receive all required information to raise the Purchase Orders.

Procurement Competitiveness Capture:

• Source activities and market monitoring for defined categories including key players, newcomers, economic evolutions, market or regulation constraints, innovations and technology in order to support the development of the most up to date category strategies to the businesses.
• Based on the above provide insights as to how products / projects could be more competitive via the adoption of different suppliers / methodologies / technology etc.

Governance, Leadership and Performance Management:

• Ensure appropriate governance is applied using KPI's and root cause corrective actions

Supplier / Acquisition Management:

• Performance management of the supply base in line with the standards set out by the Global Category Manager .
• Ensure that supplier competitions follow the governance process and are balanced and fair in order to improve business and customer performance.

Lead contract activities with supplier and ensure that compliance assessment of the supplier is matching Thales group rules:

• Ensure that global contracts / framework agreements are adopted and utilised.
• Ensure that Thales e-Acquisition and all THALES procurement tools are fully used.
• Based on the performance management of the supply base identify the suppliers who require focused development actions and ensure that the Supplier Development Team have the required support / leverage in order for these actions to be successful. 

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• 3+ years’ experience in Engineering.
• Experience working in project/program, design / product development with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrable experience in bids/project or procurement topics (e.g. negotiation, supplier meetings, visits) is desirable.

QUALIFICATION, CERTIFICATION & EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Diploma in Engineering – Electronics field preferred
• Experience/Diploma in Procurement desirable
• English language fluency is required
• Arabic language is Mandatory.
• Saudi National.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Engineering background in Electronics and product/service associated knowledge to allow leverage in negotiation with supplier/ good understanding of supplier’s capabilities
• Skills in the field of market survey / sourcing experience desired
• Ability to implement operational supply chain strategy
• Contractual knowledge especially of framework agreements, Liability & insurance. 
• Ability to lead negotiation including import / export considerations
• Understanding of  the market for the categories under his/her control but also ability to understand the customer’s needs and program issues
• Good knowledge of a best practice acquisition Process.
• Capability to work within cross functional and international multi organizational teams (teamwork)
• Open minded (listen, share ideas etc.) and able to bring added value and new ideas
• Ability to take initiatives with a good capacity of analysis and of synthesis
• Ability to prioritize tasks
• Ability to represent Thales and to demonstrate Thales values
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!